policy. hagel is more of a progressive voice, but i'm not sure that a second-term obama presidency reaches back to another republican defense figure. >> and as to the john kerry/susan rice dilemma that the president faces, he says that the attacks on susan rice won't affect his decision one way or another. it won't force his hand to nominate her, and it won't affect his decision to go with senator kerry, if that's what he chooses to do. is he going to be able to incredibly present his choice as his real first choice under these circumstances? >> well, that's the problem with this town, right? when you have these kind of vicious attacks you are damned if you do and damned if you don't. for cynical operators which i think there are some in the attacks on rice among the republican caucus here, they get a sort of partial short-term victory there because there is a lot of noise. i think at the end of the day this president gets his first choice, secretary of state nominee through regardless of whi